Just Finished: Bioshock Infinite: Complete Edition (As part of Bioshock: The Collection) (PS4)

Bioshock Infinite definitely matches the original game in ambition. The plot and primary antagonist are not as outstanding as the original game but it comes close. The gameplay is pretty satisfying. Thankfully they simplified the enemy hacking and lockpicking mechanics even further. Limiting the number of weapons you can use at a time to two just makes me use some of the weapons less. The Vigors (Plasmids) are fun but I felt more attached to the ones in Bioshock 1. Columbia is a beautifully realized city in the sky and using the sky hooks can provide a rush. Elizabeth joins the likes of Ashley and Ellie as memorable companions. I dig the surreal elements of the story and its inherent weirdness. None of the enemies are as iconic as the Big Daddies. Also the game dials back on the horror elements in favor of swashbuckling adventure. The button that activates an arrow that shows you where to go is a great feature that every game should have.  The biggest twist is that Booker DeWitt was voiced by Troy Baker. I say this because all the while I was playing I could have sworn it was Nolan North because Booker acts, talks, and even looks like Nathan Drake. Though getting the guy who played Drake's brother is pretty damn close. So you mean to tell me that Baker played two lead characters in major games about escorting a special young woman from danger? Now I am in the same boat as everyone else and have to wait to see what's next for this franchise.

Score: 8/10

Full Completed 2023 List:

• Super Mario World (NSO)
• Star Fox (NSO)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
• Donkey Kong Country (NSO)
• The Legend of Zelda (NSO)
• Gran Turismo 7 (PS5)
• Grand Theft Auto V (PS5)
• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Edition (PS5)
•  Bioshock Infinite: Complete Edition (PS4)

Elden Ring :P

HFW (PS4) is on my list to play at some point, I've played PS5 but as I own digital might as well play PS4 version and get another plat. :P

Anyway, your thoughts on the story kinda reflect on mine, based on feel as I feel it lacked in actual plot/narrative. I legit actually disliked Aloy at the start, she is very disrespectful and dismissive of other people's thoughts and feelings. But as you mention, much to the point of her character in the main game, she grew and accepted them for the better.. As for main plot and stuff, I didn't like a fair few aspects, main bad guys and ending was in my view

I'll go over my main thoughts on gameplay when I get it playing it again. I am certainly looking forward to it, loved the open world nature of FW.

I agree that the villains should have gotten a little more focus on the along the main story, now most of them were absent for much of the main storyline. You do learn things about them from the datapoints around the world and optional discussions, but you have to go out of your way to find a lot of them. On the other hand, Regalla gets a lot of backstory and focus put on her, so maybe they just decided to make her the main focal point as far as antagonists were concerned.

+ Persona 3 Portable (Xbox Series X/S) - 1000G, Hard

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Dead Island 2

The Takeover

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Diablo IV

Shadow Man Remastered

Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion

Infernax

Pikmin 4

Fight'N Rage

Double Dragon Neon

Tetris Effect: Connected

The Ninja Saviors: Return Of The Warriors

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario RPG

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

So far this year and not in order.

Persona 5 Royal Switch

Megaton Musashi PS4

Sol Cresta NS

Eiyuden Chronicle Rising PS5

Like a Dragon Ishin PS5

Gears of War 1,2,3,4,5 Xbox 360 and PC

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk PS4

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam SEGA Saturn

Macross do you Remember Love SEGA Saturn

Darius cozmic collection NS

Metroid Prime Remastered NS

Ray Z Arcade Chronology NS

Assaults Suits Valken Super Famicom/Switch

GunGrave PS2

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed NS

Hyper Dyne Side Arms Arcade

GunGriffon: The Eurasian Conflict  SEGA Saturn

Final Fantasy 7

Original, not remake.

Now, I stand my my statement before, FF9 is the best one but FF7 was my first and in turn my favourite. And replaying it for the first time in like 10 years, man it has aged surprisingly well. 

I will start and say this is the PS4 version, with trophies and while for the most part the gameplay is exactly the same (although main combat feels slightly faster, maybe I'm comparing that to FF8 and 9 and W-Item exploit still exists, hilariously), this version's sound is a buggy mess. Especially music, I'd say a good 20% of the time the world map's music just doesn't play. Entire game's scenes were devoid of music and it was just silent with me reading text. Funny really.

In this playthrough I got to final boss in 26 hours, this includes some side tracking, died twice. Currently on trophies, not sure I'll ever get 99,999,999gil so won't get the Plat, so might forgo killing the weapons as well. It took me 2.5 hours or so to get Gold Chocobo and therefore Knights of the Round. Working through limits of characters now. 

As for gameplay overall, still top notch. In my years of experience, I think I am noticing more inner workings of the game that as a kid I never took note of, or didn't care about, I know how to cheese things. But looking how how materia affect character stats is not something I cared about. I still prioritise Enemy Skill, Big Guard and White Wind, bread and butter those.

As for story, it's so good to experience it in my older years and how well done it really is. Sure there are bit of dialogue that aren't quite right but the tone is amazingly well done, story beats are top notch. Like when Aeris has her incident, after the Jenova fight not a single line of dialogue is said, we know what is going on, we know the characters feelings. Kinda feel if this was made now the characters would be talking and saying loads of quite honestly dumb stuff.

Obviously, I'm always going to compare the remake to this, and that just doesn't compare. FF7 is a superb game with a great story with good fundamental gameplay mechanics, FF7R is a good action game with what to me is a nonsense of a story and it's a shame. FF7R seemed to me to be missing so much, even with all it's extra content.

+ Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Xbox Series X)

Just finished second playthrough of Breath of the Wild.

So far:

Hades

Breath of the Wild